Asian stock markets closed mixed Thursday.
Tokyo's Nikkei index gained one percent to finish at 8,823.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index rose over two and one-quarter percent to finish the day's trading at 18,758.
Share prices were higher in Manila, Shanghai, Sydney and Taipei, but lower in Wellington.
In currency trading, the U.S. dollar was selling at 77.06 yen, a loss of nearly one-quarter of a yen from Wednesday.